THUMBS & QUOTES: Oct. 27, 2018

Friday

Oct 26, 2018 at 2:00 PMOct 26, 2018 at 2:00 PM

THUMBS ...

UP: For the newly established St. Augustine Music Hall of Fame, which will welcome its first induction class at a ceremony and free concert Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. Among the honorees are Gamble Rogers, Don “Oja” Dunaway, Bob Patterson, Elizabeth Roth, John Westbrook; and the bands The Driftwoods, The Folksters, Red River Band, Rotagilla and Those Guys. A special "In the Biz" award will go the the Leonard Family and the Tradewinds Lounge, where most of these musician got their start — and where all remember nights there worth forgetting … and forgetting nights worth remembering, due to Duke and Tony’s “convivial” (Gamble would’a liked that one) hand behind the bar.

UP: To the Sisters of St. Joseph, who were honored recently for their long and lasting service to our community. Sister Mary Josepha Butterfield, Sister Joan of Arc Englerd, Sister Lilia Fernandez and Sister Dorothy Flowers were recognized for serving 70 years. Sister Nancy Keane was honored for serving 50 years and Sister Stephanie Flynn was lauded for her 25 years at the convent. The Sisters of St. Joseph were originally called by the Bishop Augustine Verot to teach the many children freed from slavery in 1866.

... & QUOTES

“I think we’re going to see pretty close to a 60 percent overall turnout.” – St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Vicky Oakes, speaking of the midterm elections here Nov. 6.

“I think both sides are much more motivated and mobilized than in the past. … The stakes are high. There’s such a clear difference in the candidates.” – Jerry Cameron, chairman of the St. Johns County Republican Executive Committee, commenting on the upcoming midterm elections.

“We want to bring it back to life, to make it part of the community again.” – Pastor Earl Glisson of the Anchor Faith Church that occupies a portion of the former Ponce de Leon Mall. The church is attempting to raise the money necessary to purchase the property, and bring more retail back in, while expanding the room the church needs for its congregants.

“The Confederate monument issue was really a big deal. Had we not handled that well it could have easily been a Charlottesville. “ – St. Augustine City Manager John Regan, speaking in a story about hurdles the city Police Department have had thrown up in its endeavor to become fully accredited.

“It puts us a step ahead of everyone else, so to speak, especially for a smaller agency. … It produces more of a professional product for our community.” – St. Augustine Beach Police Chief Robert Hardwick, who got the accreditation ball rolling almost immediately after taking the helm there at the beginning of 2013. He said its accreditation is a source of pride of for the men and women who serve the city.

“We can’t and wouldn’t tell (people) they can’t protest at all. What we can do is (make sure) that they’re kept separate from others who are trying to enjoy the event.” – Assistant City Attorney John Cary, speaking of an attempt to draft a city ordinance meant to help ensure that protests downtown continue, but in a safer and more civilized manner.

“It was right after the market crashed and things weren’t going so well [for the farm]. There isn’t a lot to do in the area so we thought it might be something different for the community. People really loved it, and now look forward to coming back to it.” – Brittanie Sykes, speaking in a story about the family’s corn maze out in Elkton, which started small, but is a major attraction year after year for locals during the month of October. Between 20,000 and 25,000 tickets are sold each fall.

“We hate the term ‘vo-tech.’” I think sometimes when people classify us as a vo-tech, they are aligning us with only providing those services in the technical field. We provide all services that any other school would provide with our students.” – Cynthia Williams has been fighting stereotypes since she became principal at St. Johns Technical High School about five years ago.

“While St. Johns County’s infant mortality is below the state and regional average, those in the field say even one death is one too many…. Even one death is too many. … We want to make sure every baby makes it to their first birthday.” – Melanie Patz, Baptist Health’s vice president for community investment and impact, speaking in a story about infant mortality and issues surrounding it. In 2017, the infant mortality rate for Northeast Florida as a region was 7.3 deaths per 1,000. The state rate is 6.1 deaths.

“Our ceremony today has been tarnished by that hatred, but it is not stopped. We shall not be moved, our stories will be told, our dialogue will continue, our reconciliation and healing will prevail.” – Regina Gayle Phillips, executive director for the Lincolnville Museum, speaking in a ceremony honoring Isaac Barrett, a black man who was lynched by a white mob in 1897 in Northwest St. Johns County. A marker was placed in anticipation of the ceremony, but was stolen before it could be officially unveiled.

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